title: Ampicillin treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vivo. An experimental study in rabbits.
abstract: The effect of ampicillin on gonococci was investigated in chambers subcutaneously implanted in rabbits. An intramuscular injection of ampicillin resulted in a rapid increase of the ampicillin concentration in serum, whereas the diffusion of ampicillin into the fluid of a non-infected chamber was comparatively slow. The ampicillin concentration was, however, maintained in the chamber fluid during a prolonged period of time as compared to ampicillin in serum. The concentration profile of ampicillin in the infected chamber was similar to that of the non-infected chamber, though at a lower level. No viable gonococci were detected 120 minutes after the injection of ampicillin. In contrast, the same concentration of ampicillin in a liquid culture resulted in slower reduction in the viability of the gonococcal strain. Even after 300 minutes a small population of gonococci was viable. Thus, a difference in the activity of ampicillin could be observed between the in vitro and the in vivo test situation.
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000667:Ampicillin